Speed-reducing mechanism.



1. B.`Fo0a. SPEED EEDUClNG MECHANISM APPLlCATlON FILED SERT. 23,1914.

11,190,278. Patented July u, 191%.

SPEED REDUCING ME 'NISIVl APPLICATION FILED SEP ,191m

151 90,378, Patented July 11, 1916.

' ,f l 4 sHEsTs'f-SHEET s.,

` 1. FOOTE.

SPEED REDUCING MECHA'NlSM. APPucATmN FILED sEffT.23,1914.

1,190,278.` Y Patented 11. 1916.

4 SHE HEET 4.

UniTED .STATES PATENT ICE? l JOHN B. FOOTEyE-GHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPEED-REDUCING MECANISM.

Specification 0f Lettes Patent Patented'July 11, 1916.

Ap'plicatioxi'led September 23;. 1914'. SerialriNo. 863,057.

To i/Z H'ifom il? niai/ concern.'

lie it known that l, J'OiiN resident ot' `Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements inSpeed-Re* duf-ing Mechanism, of (which. the following.

is a vfull. clear, and exact description.

.The invention relates to speed reducing inechan-isiii and designs to provide avniechanis-in which is simple in construction and is adapted to be conipactly einbodied'in acase. The invention further designs to provide a speed reducing mechanism in which a high speed pinion ontlie drive shaft meshes with a series of pinionson a rotary cage revolving c-,oiicentricall)r with the drive shaftand the lforth iii Letters Patent No. 1,059,450, so'that 'greater reduction in speed may be attained without iiiaterially increasing the number of gears employed..

The invention further designs to provide a speed reducing mechanism having a gearon the drive shaft meshing with a series of.

idlers fixed tothe cover ot' the device, said idlers meshing with. a wheel having internal teeth, said wheel having ak pinion Aixed in its,v

hub, said pinion contacting with a series of pinions secured in a rotary cage revolving coneen'tricalily with the/drive shaft, said pin-` ionsin the cagev'meshing with aiiSanniilar rack secured to the outer ease and aseriesofv pinioiis on the shattscarrying Ithe 'pinions'in the cage meshing with a Ywheel having rinternal teeth fixedon the slow speed shaft.

, The invention further designs to provide a,` new and improved'means for oilingk .the

- shafts of this device.

The invention consists in the several `novel features hereinafter set forth and more par-.-

tieulaily defined by claims atfthe conclusion hereof.

`In the drawings: Figure `1 is a `longitudi- `nal section oi aspeed reducing mechanism embodying' the invention. -Fig.2 is a section ta ken on the lineA oi Fig'. .1., Fig. 3 is a` tace view oic one. `or'wthe. rotatable rings lin which tlie-plaiietaify vpi'i'iion-sliaits are siistained. Fig. .4 is a side elevation of said B. Foo'rn, al

shaft 15 rwill .serve 1iiig. Fig. 5 is a ksection taken on iiiie oof Figi. 1. Fig. is ai detail View ofthe other ring in which the planetary pinion shaftsaife sustained. Fig. 7 is a side eleva' tiomo'i said ring.. "Figi 8 is a section taken on lline 8 8 of' Fig. 1. i Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic 'View of the gearing in .the easel) y The mechanism is inclosedwithinajsuitable, case wliicln` inrpract'ice, contains lubricant yin which the gein-"ing operates. This case comprises' ai hollowbody 10, a` removable side "11 at Aone "end and a removable side 12 at the other, said` sides being secured to ,the body 10 by vsuitable stud bolts 11a. AA high speeddrive-shaft 13 is journaled in: a

suitablenbearing y14 in the, caseside 11, may .i be driven from any suitable source of power at liigu speed, and will communicate .power by means of intermediatel reducing gear .nieclianism to ai'drivenshaft 15` whichfisv journal'ed in case-side 12 atxl. Drive shaft 13 and ,driven shaft 15 are coaxially disposed or alinedand extend outwardly `from the sidesot' 'the case respectively, sov that .the 'former may be connectedto a suitablesource ot" power, such as aiieleiotric motor, and the v to ,drivevthe mechanism to be drivenat a reduced speed.

A pinfioiijl'' is formed onthe driveshaft `13 adj aeent. vthe inner side of the casevside 11.

'Iliis pinionineshes with a series of idlers `18 each .of which is suitably journaledon a stud 19 ywhich is secured in the case V11i by a nut 20. "Each Studis provided with a shoulder 21 facing theinner flace'of'the 'sidell anda yh'eadi22 at its .inner end, sothatv'the pinion mounted thereon will vbep'freev to rotate.

vIdlers 18 coinnunicate power from thepinion 17 to a wheel 23-,haying internal teeth and which is coneentiically 4mounted with respect to fthe .shaftsf13 and 15. `The pitch d ianieter-.of this ,wheel is :much greater ,than thattof thepinion. 17, -sojlthlat the speed of -the wlieeliQ .will Abe-Correspoiidiiiglyreduced. ,The reduction in speed' ibetween pinion 17 and gear wheel y23 constitutes what will Abe `termed convenience Athelqfirst reduetion. c 'Gein-wheel 23 `is keyed tothehuh of a pinion `24e vwhich isprovide'd with va bus'hingz and isjoiirnaled on tliereduced .poitioirZG of; the drive shaftl '13. 'Resultaritly, -themoveinent of .the gear wheel 23willbecommiinicated fromv said 'wheel tothe rpinion 24, the latter beingmiicliless yin diameter, to canse saidv pinion 24.5150 drive the remainder ofthegeai! ing at 'a correspondingly less speed. The

inner end of the reduced 4portion 26 of shaft 13 is journaled in a bushing 27 in the recessed end of the driven shaft 15, so that the drive shaft ivill be coaxially disposed oi" alined with the driven shaft by being supported in said shaft adjacent to the journal reduction." This redaction may be varied by replacing pinion 24and gear 28 with gears of diii'erentratios. Thcrefore,the invention provides a speed reducing gear which permits the ratio of reduction to be conveniently varied or adapted for different reductions.- By removing the case-side 11 from the body 10 of the case and Withdrawing the shaft 13 and the idlers 18 which are journaled on studs 19 from the case, the gear Wheel 23 pinion 24 and gear Wheels 28 Vmay bereadily 'accessible to permit the substitution of gear wheels necessary to effect' the change in the ratio `of the second reduction 1n speed Ring 3() is provided with a bushing 32 and is journaled on the hub of the Wheel 23. Ring 31 is provided with a bushing 34 and is journaled on the reduced end 35 of the driven shaft 15, and its periphery is free to rotate Within the annular flange 36 formed in casing 10 Ring 31 is provided with a series of integral spacing and connecting lugs 38 having holes 39 therein for receiving screws 4Q which pass through apertures 41 in the ring 30 and secure the rings together. By disposing ring 30 to rotate upon the hub of the Wheel 23, and ring 31 to rotate on the reduced end of the driven shaft 15, the rotary cage is provided with a bearing on the central shafts and its axis of rotation is co incident with that of the shafts 13 and 15 and this, With the journal bearing for the ring 31 in the liange 36, will relieve the shaft 29 of stresses which are likely-to cause it to Wear away the bearings in the rings 30 and 31 for said shaft.

Gears 28 disposed in the rotary cage en gage a circular rack 42 which is fixedto the casing 10. Thus, the gears 28 mesh betveen the iinion 24 and the rack 42 and this disposir'on also relievestthe arbors 29 of stresses which are likely to cause undue Wear on their bearings in the rings 30 and` 31 l Each gear 2S is keyed to its arbor 29 which passes "throught bearings 3() and 31 of the rings 30, 31 and is provided with shoulders 43 and 44 adjacent said rings respectively andrrachlilas,` a pinion 45 formed thereon adjacent the case side 12. These pinions 45 mesh with a gear Wheel 47 having internal teeth' 48, which is secured to the driven shaft 151i placing pinions 45 and wheel 47 with gears of different ratios.

As previously stated, the speed reducing mechanism runs in oil or other lubricant contained within the outer casing, and means' are provided whereby some of this lubricant will be drawn from the interior of the casi ing to lubricat'e `either of the shafts. This means comprises an inclined channel 54 leading from the bearing for the shaft down into the interior of the casing. The bearing for the shaft is provided with an annular groove 56 having its lower portion communicating with the channelV 54. The shaft adjacent this annular groove is provided with double grooves 57 and 58, and a groove 63 conducts oil from the interior of the case to groove 56. Itl has been found by practice, that While the shafts are rotating there is a tend `ency to pull oil or lubricant toward the outer end of the case through grooves 63 and into the annular recess 56 from said recess the lubricant` iows through, through channel 54 `back into the case, thus producing a constant flow of oil through the bearing to oil the shaft without the aid of an oil ring.

The case is usually provided with a fill-- ing-plug to permit lubricant to be introduced into the gear case, so that the mechanism will run 1n the lubricant, and with a plug to permit the lubricant to run from the case when desired, such plugs being of usual construction as Well understood in the art and therefore it has not been deemed necesp sary to illustrate them.

In operation, shaft 13 will be driven at a high speed, usually from an electric motor. Pinion 17 will be driven by said shaft and rotate idlers 18 which impart rotation in the opposite direction to the gear Wheel 23 at a reduced speed, corresponding to the ratio between pinion li and said gear Wheel 23, and the latter will correspondingly rotate pinion 24 to drive gears 28 and shafts 29 Whereon they are mounted and to which they are secured, and the gears 28 will mesh with. the teeth on the circular rack 42. Thef rela tive speed of the shaft 29 and the pinionzk will be reduced correspondingly to the ratio of the pin1on24 to the circular rack 42, thus resulting in a further reduction of speed. .The number of turns that the shaft-29, which carries the gears 45, will make during each revoli'ition of the rotary cage, will be'the l speed reducing mechanism as described and accomplished.v for if piiiions 45 have 12 lteeth and make three revolutions on its own shaft, and if the internallytoothed wheel 47 had 37 teeth, the ratio between these two would be 23T/to l, and it is lpossible to provide a ratio of 6 to l in the first reduction, and to 1 inthe second, by the use'of suitable toothed gears,meshing withea'ch other, so that the total ratio of the case will be equal to the products -ofithe ratios oftlie three reductions which will lequal 105495 to 1.

T he invention thusV exemplifies a speed reducing mechanism, `in which there are three reductions between the `drive shaft and the driven shaft, and in which the second reduction'is accomplished by the use of a series of planetary Agears meshing with a gear concentrically. disposed with Vrespect to the eye on the driven shaft, the shafts of eacn gear carrying another series of gearsl 'or an internal which mesh with a gear toothed wheel secured'. to the vdriven shaft.

Theinvention 'also exemplifies a gear reducing mechanism in which planetary pinions are utilized to drive an internally toothed gear rotating about the axis' of the planetary movement,y and in connect-'ion with idler pinions which effect the first reduc tion. In the'construction set forth, the gears are. coinpactly disposed so that a great reduction` of speed small mechanism, a low cost.v ,Y

The invention is -not to be understoofdas restricted to the details set toi-th, since these may lie i'i'iodified"within the scope of the ap i pcndcd claims without departing Afrom the l.spiritI and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to' secure by Lctterslatent, is:

1. The combination ofyii non-rotatable case h'aving sides,

iii the other sideof the case, being coaxial,idler pinions at `one sideV of the case 4mounted to rotate about "fixedii-bers and connected to said driven shaft.

planetary gearing comprising arbors,

may be eii'ected Vwith a4 which can be producedat a drive shaft mounted inl one side of the case, a driven shaft mounted' said shaftsv 2.`The combination, of a non-rotatablel case having sides, a drive shaft mounted in one side of the case, a driven shaft mounted inthe other side of the case, said shafts being coaxial,'idler pinions at one side of the case mounted to rotate about fixed axes, a pinion on the drive shaft engaging idler pinions, an internally' toothed vgear wheel meshing with said idler pinions, a pinionsecured to-,said internally toothed wheel,

and a plurality of piiiions onk each of the aibors, a stationary rack engaging one pinion on each of the arbors, and an internally toothed wheel meshing withl the other piiiions on vsaid aibors and connected to said driven shaft. v

3. The combination of a non-rotatable case having sides, a drive shaft mounted in one side of the case, a driven shat't mounted l in the other side o f the case, said shaft-s being. coaxial, studs fixed on one side of the case, idler pinions'niounted to rotate on'said studs, a pinion on the drive shaft engaging the idler pinions, an internally toothed gear wheel meshing with said pinions of the case, a pinion secured to rotate with said internally toothed wheel, planetary gearing comprising arbors anda plurality of pinions on each of the arbors, a stationaryrack engaging one pinion on each of the arbors, and a gear meshing with the other pinions on the arbors and connected to Said driven shaft.

4. The combination of a Vnon-rotatable case having reniovi'i'ble sides, a drive shaft 'mounted in one side ofthe case, a driven shaft mounted intlieother side of the ease, said shafts being coaxial, idler pinions mounted on one side of the case, a pinion on the drive shaftengaging the idler pinions, an internally toothed gear wheel mesi. ng withv said idleilv pinions, a pinion` secured to rotate with said internally toothed wheel', planetari `gearing compris` ing arbors and a plurality of pinions on each of the arboi's, a stationary rack engaging -one pinion Ion each of the arbors, anda gear driven by the other pinions "on` the arbore. a`nd connected tosaid driven shaft, said internally toothed gear and planetaiy gearing being reinoval'ile'from the case when Aone case-side is removed.

5. The combination of a non-rotatable ,case having removable sides, a drive shaft mounted in one side of the ease, a driven shaft mounted in the other side of the ease, said shafts `being coaxial, idlerv Ipinions mounted-on one side of the case, a pinion-on the drive shaft engaging the idler pinions, an internally toothed gear wheel meshing with said idler pinions, a pinion secured to rotate with said internally toothed wheel,

lanetary gearing comprising arborel land a plurality of pinions on each of theiarbors,

at the side1 a stationary rack engaging one pinion on each of the arbors, and an internally toothed gear meshing with the other pinions on the arbors and secured to the driven shaft, the planetary gearing being removable through one side of *the case and the internally toothed gear on the driven shaft being re- `movable through the otherside.

the arbors are join'naled, disposed between the pinions on the arbors.

7. The combination of a non-rotatablev ease having sides, a drive shaft and a driven shaft jonrnaled in the sides of the ease respectively, said shafts being coaxial, a pinion on the drive shaft, an internally toothed gear on the driven shaft, lanetary gearing comprising arbors and a p urality of pinions on each arbor, a stationary raelr meshing with one pinion on each of the arbors, the other pinions on the arbors meshing with the Wheel on the driven shaft, said planetary 4Uli gearing being driven by the pinion on the drive shaft, and a rotatable ring in which the arbors are jonrnaled, disposed between the pinions on the arborsil 8. The combination of a non rotatable ease having sides, a drive shaft and a driven shaft jonrnaled in the sides of the case respectively, said shafts being coaxial, apinion on the drive shaft, idlers engaging with said pinion, an internally toothed wheel meshing' with said idlers, a pinion fixed to the internally toothed gear, a gear-Wheel on the driven shaft, planetary gearing comprising arbors and a plurality of pinions on each arbor a stationary rack meshing with one pinion on each of thearbors, the other pinions on the arbors meshing with the Wheel on the draven shaft. and a rotatable ring in which the arbors are j oilriniled, disposed between the perrons on said arbors, the pinion on the internally toothed gear meshing with the1 pinions which mesh with the stationary rac r.

9. The combination of a non-rotatable meshing with one pinion on each vof the arbers, the other pinions on the arbors meshing with the wheel on the driven shaft, said planetary gearing being driven by the pinion on the drive shaft, and a rotatable ring 7a in which the arbors are journaled disposed between said pinions on said arbors, said ring and planetary .gearing being removable through one side of the ease.

10. The combination of a non-rotatable case having'removable sides, a drive shaft and a driven shaft journaled in the sides of the case respectively, said shafts being co-y axial, a pinion on the drive shaft, a gear# y' Wheel `on the driven shaft, planetary gear- 3o ing comprising arbors anda plurality of pinions on each arbor, a statlonary raelr .meshing with one pinion on each of the arbers, the other pinions on the arbors meshing With the Wheel on the driven shaft, said sa planetary gearing being driven by the pinion on the drive shaft, and a rotatable ring in which the arbors are journaled, disposed between said pinions on said arbors, said ring and planetary gearing being removable through one side of the case, the gear on the driven shaft being removable through the other side.

1l. The combination of a non-rotatable case having sides, a drive shaft and a driven shaft journaled in the sides of the case respeetively, said shafts being coaxiah'a pin ion on the drive shaft, a gear-Wheel on the driven shaft, planetary gearing comprising arbors and a plurality of pinions fixed on 10o each arbor, a stationary rack meshing with, one pinion on each of the arbors, the other pinions' on the arbors meshing with thewheel on the driven shaft, said planetary gearing being driven by the pinion on the f10;,4 drive shaft, a ring in which the arbors are journaled, a bearing in the case for the outer periphery of the ring,` and a bearing for the hub of the ring.

12. The combination of a non-rotatable 11o ease having sides, a' drive shaft and a-driven shaft journaled in the sides of the ease respectively, said shafts being coaxial, a pinion on the drive shaft,`a gear-Wheel on the driven shaft, planetary gearing conilllT prising arbors each having a plurality of pinions thereon, a stationary `rack meshing with one pinion on each of the arbors, the` other pinions on the arbprs meshing with the Wheel n the driven shaft, said plane- 'i120 tary gearing being driven bythe pinion on the drive shaft, a ring. inwhieh the arbors are journaled, a bearingin4 the case for the outer periphery of the,-ring, and a bearin on one of said shafts for thehnb of the 19e ring. 13. The combination of a non-rotatable case having sides, a drive shaft and a driven sha/ftjournaled in the sides of the case respectively, said shafts being-coaxial, a pin- 13'# ion on the drive ion onithe drive shaft, a gear-Wheel on the being driven bythe pinion on the drive shaft, a ring in ,which rthe arbors are Journaled, a bearing in the ease for the outerperipliery of the ring, and a bearing Aon the driven shaft for the'hub 'of the ring. i i A v o 14. `The Combinationv of a nonfrotatable ease v havingremovable sides, a drive shaft and a driven shaft journaled inlthe sides of thev oase respectively, saidjshaftsbeing.-

coaxial, apiniony on thedrive shaft,`a"-gearwheel l'on the driven shaft, planetary'fgearing comprisingr arbors"'anda p lnrality of pinions V meshing, withl one [pinion on eaehofthe arbors, the other-,pinionsrv on r the arbors meshing with, the 'Wheel ongthe'driven shaft,

said planetary gearing being driven bytlie pinion on the drive shaft,` a ringin which the arborsare journaleid, abeari'ng rin thek Case 'frifthe Outer `per,irhry"0fth ring, and a bearing yfor thehubof ythe r'ii'i"g,msaidj4v ring andplanetary gearinlgijbeing removable* through -one side ofthe ease.

15. The co filiation ofa non-rotatable' case having' sides, a Adrive shaftand adriven' shaft jiournaledinfthe' sides of the ease resaid shafts being coaxial, apini rings, one of saidrings being disposed bespectively, Y ion on vthe drive shaft, aninternally toothed gear wheel on the driven shaft, plai'ietary gearing eompris'ing arbors and a pair of pinionsffixed on eachy arbor, a stationary meshing with one pinion Ion each fof the arbors, i he other pinions on thefarb'orsl meshing With the internally toothed Wheel on the vdriven shaft, saidplanetary gearing being driven by theA pinion oir-the drive shaft, a ringin Whieh the arbors are ease' for thejournaled, a bearing in lthe outer periphery ofthe ring, for the hub of the ring.

and a bearing 116, The eomb'nation of a non-,rotatableA ease having sides, a drive shaftand afdriven A shaft journaled intheV sides of the `ease re-.

spectively, `said shafts being coaxial, a pinthecase, an internally ltoothedgear vmesha 'pinion' fixed torotate with .saidwinternally toothed gear, an internally toothed igear on the' ,driven "shaft, planetary gearing; conipris'ing"y arborsfand a plurality of pinions `fixed on.eaoh of the arbors, a stationaryraek meshing'with one`4 pinion on eaohjof `the arbors, the 'pinion fixed to the internally toothed gear-Wheel ,meshing with the pinions which mesh with other pinions on the stationary rack, the

the Wheel on the the arbore meshing with on each r'arboigja lstationary rack` `,ease having for Athe arbors shaft, idlers mounted on,

sipeetively, said "ion on the drive shaft, a

ldriven shaft, a ring in which. the arbors driven shaft', a planetarygearing comprising a'rbois and a plurality of'4 pinions fixed on eaeh arbor, a stationary rae'kl' meshing with one pinion on each of thc-,'arbors, the other pinions on the arbors-rneshing with theivheel ontlie driven shaft, said planetary gearing being driven by the pinion on 'the' drive shaft, Vand rotatable supporting nieansfor the arbore' comprising a plurality of rings, a .hub bearing for each of the rings andjafbearin'g jon the ease for the periphery of ,one of the rings.

18; The eoinbination of a non-rotatablesides, a'jdi'ive vshaft vand a driven shaft Join-naled in the sides of the ease respeetively, said shafts being coaxial, a ypinl rion on thedrive shaft, a gear wheel on the,i driven vshaft, planetary gearing comprising arbors-and a plurality ofpinions fixed on each. arbor, ar stationary ,raelr meshing with one pinion on each of the arbors,the other pinions. \\"heel on the Y driven shaft, said planetary. gearing' beingy driven by' the pinion ontlie drive shaft, and rotatable supporting means for the arbors Comprising a plurality of tiveen the piiiions on the arbors.

19. The combination of a` non'rotatable arbor-sand a pluralityofpinions fixed oli eaoharbor, a stationary rack meshing with rone pinionr on each of the a-rbors, the 'other pinions on the arbors :meshing with the Wheel on ythe driven' shaft, said planetary gearing being drivenby the pinion on the drive shaft, and rotatable supporting means A comprising a 'plurality of rings, one of said rings beingr disposed be- 'tnj'een the vpinions onthe arbormtheother Aring being disposed at one endk of the ar bers, 1 f 20. The combination of a non-rotatable ease having sides, a `drive shaft and a driven shaft A journaled in the sides of the case reshaftsbeing Coaxial, apingear Wheel on the driven shaft, planetary gearing comprisingy arbors and a plurality ofv rpinions fixed on each arbor, said planetary gearing being driven bythe pinion on the Vdrive shaft, a stationary rack meshing. With one pinion on .the arborsv nieshinf: with the on each of the arbors, the other pinions on the arbors meshino` with the Wheel on the driven shaft, rot-ata le supporting means for thearbors comprising a plurality of rings,

a hub bearing for each of the rings on the drive and driven shafts respectively, and a bearing on the case for the periphery of one of the rings.

2l. The combination of a non-rotatable case having fixed sides, a drive shaft and a driven shaft journaled in the fixed sides of the case respectively, a pinion in the case and fixed on the drive shaft, a gear on the driven shaft, studs carried by one side of the case and sustained against movement thereby, idlers on said sides respectively, an internally toothed rotatable gear meshing with said idlers, and planetary gearingin the case, and driven by said internally toothed rotatable gear to drive the gear on the driven shaft.

gear on the driven shaft, studs cardriven shaft journaled in the fixed sides` Vof the case respectively, a pinion in `the case and xedon the drive sha'ft, aminternally toothed gear on the driven shat stads cary ried by one side` of the case, idlers on said studs respectively, a'n lnternallytoothed rtatable gear meshing with said idlers, and planetary gearing in the case and driven b3 and driving said Internally toothed gears respectively, comprising arbore and a pair of pinions fixedaoneach arbor. 4,

24. The combination of a non-rotatable case having fixed sides, a drive shaft and a driven shaft journaled in the fixed sides of the case respectively, a. pinion in the case and fixed on the drive shaft, an internally toothed gear on the driven shaft, studs carried by one side of the case, idlers on said studs respectively, an internally toothed rota` table gear meshing with said idlers, and planetary gearing in the case and driven by and driving said internally toothed gears respectively, comprising arbors and a pair of pinions fixed on each arbor, a stationary rack meshing with one of the pinions on each arbor, the other pinions meshing with the gear on the driven shaft, and a pinion on the internally toothed gear meshing with the pinlons which mesh with the stationary Til() JOHN B. FOOTE. Witnesses:

KATHARINE GERLAGH, MILDRED STUMPF. 

